Data from drug checking services across Europe provide us with valuable insights into drug market dynamics and can help warn users of dangerous substances in circulation. Analysing such data is part of the EMCDDA's multi-indicator approach to drug monitoring and provides crucial information for local interventions. Today, the EMCDDA has released the latest drug-checking data from the Trans-European Drug Information (TEDI) network, with which it has been collaborating since 2017.
The data are presented in interactive maps, which allow individuals to look at geographical and temporal patterns and to zoom in on results by drug, year, semester and city. At present, the substances covered are: amphetamine, cocaine, heroin, ketamine, MDMA pills and MDMA powder.
These interactive features have been designed to be accessible and user-friendly and to perform better on mobile and desktop devices. In line with the EMCDDA’s commitment to open data, all of the source tables behind the tool can be easily downloaded by researchers, data journalists or anyone interested in using the data in their work.
Drug checking services are available in 11 EU Member States, as well as in Switzerland, the UK and other parts of the world. They provide potentially life-saving information on the content of drug samples submitted to them by people who use drugs, based on chemical analysis. They may also offer advice, counselling or brief interventions, including referral to other support services. The analytical techniques used also vary, from sophisticated technology that is able to provide information on the strength and content of a wide variety of substances, to methods that simply show the presence or absence of a particular drug (such as thin-layer chromatography and reagent test kits).
The sites at which testing occurs include drop-in services with fixed laboratories, where individuals and organisations can submit drugs for testing (with results provided days later). They also feature mobile laboratories at festivals, clubs or drug consumption rooms, which provide almost immediate results.
Further information on the data, including methods and definitions may be found on the Drug checking methods and definitions page.
